School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: June 24, 2021 Time: 6:30PM Location: Mayor's Reception Room, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:35 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark and Mr. Descoteaux. Mr. Dillon was absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. An Executive Session May Be Called To Discuss Collective Bargaining, Strategies and/or Possible Litigation Under Open Meeting Law, Chapter 30A, Section 21 (A) (B), 2, 3 Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts General Laws. Open Meeting Discussion May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Bargaining Or Litigating Position Of The Public Body. 4. EXECUTIVE SESSION 4.1. Item: Review and Consideration of Chief Operating Officer's Request for Contract Amendment Ms. Martin made a motion to recess at 6:36 p.m. and to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing Collective Bargaining, Strategies and/or Possible Litigation Under Open Meeting Law, Chapter 30A, Section 21 (A) (B), 2, 3 Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts General Laws related to: Review and Consideration of Chief Operating Officer's Request for Contract Amendment, of which Open Meeting Discussion May Have A Detrimental Effect On The Bargaining Or Litigating Position Of The Public Body, and to return from Executive Session to open session; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Dillon) APPROVED The Committee returned to open session and on a roll call at 7:47 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark and Mr. Descoteaux. Mr. Dillon was absent. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 3) 5. NEW BUSINESS 5.1. Chief Operating Officer Contract Amendment Ms. Doherty stated that she couldn’t support this contract amendment, but that does not reflect the individual involved. She stated that she believed when she approved the position it included those duties. She also stated that she has concerns with the salary rising to the Chief Academic Officer’s (CAO) salary if we didn’t use the Chief Operating Officer (COO) as legal counsel for negotiations. Mayor Leahy stated that he supports the amendment and he believes that the current contract does not cover the legal counsel for negotiations. He also stated that he believes the district is saving money by having the COO do it. Ms. Martin stated that she is pleased to support this and that the recognition of the scope of work that has been done and she believes that the district is the beneficiary of that work. She also stated that seven (7) or eight (8) years ago we were paying $50,000 a year for this work so the district is saving money by only paying $36,000. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Chief Operating Officer’s contract amendment with the stipend to cover legal services as written; seconded by Ms. Clark. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty), 1 absent (Mr. Dillon) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 3) 6. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to adjourn at 7:53 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Lay. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Dillon) APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Joel D. Boyd, Ed.D., Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee JDB/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us